“It’s almost March and the two summits are in May,” said a top security source. “What’s up?”

“There is no way Illinois agencies outside Cook County have the manpower to help Chicago without the numbers the New York Police Department could provide,” said another source.

McCarthy, who has yet to comment on whether he requested help from New York, “has status with them and they have a force of 30,000, twice the size of Chicago’s police force,” said another security source.

But some plans are under way:

*Sneed has learned the Chicago Police Department has requested the help of 350 cops from police departments across the state, according to a recent email dispatched by the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System.

*Assistance from Illinois State Police also has been requested, but Sneed hears only about 250 police officers could be spared.

So how many Chicago cops are needed?

*It took 4,000 cops to handle the G-8 a few years back in Pittsburgh, which had a police force of less than 1,000 officers.

*It took at least 2,000-plus cops from outside the Chicago area to help control crowds on election night 2008, when President-elect Barack Obama addressed an excited crowd at Grant Park.

*Response: “We are assessing our needs as we plan, and that includes the use of in-state and out-of-state sworn personnel,” police spokesman Melissa Stratton said Saturday. “We are not limiting candidates to one state or agency. We don’t have the final footprint for the summits so we won’t be able to finalize the number of sworn personnel we will be utilizing from other agencies until closer to the event.”

*Meanwhile: Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who is this/close to President Barack Obama, was in Washington midweek to meet with Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano to discuss Chicago’s upcoming double summit and federal help.

Everyone keeps says how the CPD "handled" the Obama crowds in 2008 with just 2,000 cops (completely disregarding the widespread, yet unreported, rioting on the west and south sides). Anyone who has studied crowd dynamics knows there is a distinct difference between a crowd out celebrating (although lord knows what they were happy about looking back 3 years) and a mob out looking for trouble, destruction and targets to vent their anger upon.

Of course, our readers have been bringing this up since the events were announced, but what the hell do they know?

149 Comments:

Anonymous said...

Why in the fuck would the Racoon bring this disaster to our city? Fact is no other city wanted the grief. So Obama told the Racoon you are having this mess in your city. End of story. Now we ...the taxpayers...are going to be footing the bill for this mess. The Racoon could care less what it cost. He will just raise taxes or find some other way to fuck us out of the few dollars we have left in our pockets. Does anyone doubt the Gangbangers and other goofs will take complete advantage of the chaos downtown to cause their own mischief. What a complete CLUSTERFUCK!!!

Senior Suburban Officer says: Have fun guys, You are not covering my disablity if I am hurt, no one will cover our vehicles if they are damaged, and if asked I am not interested in OT there or in our village in May. Let the young ones go and have all the fun. But on a seperate note, Be Safe and please be able to go home at the end of your shift.

#OChi launches their primary raid against the G8 delegates at the McCormick Center. MCC is pretty secure. Only so many doors in and out. So they decide to split up. They could have as many as 50,000. They could keep 15,000 banging on the doors at the MCC. They could send another 15,000 to the Loop. They could send another 15,000 to the Mag Mile to trash and loot. They would still have 5,000 more leftover.

Now, imagine if they could double the original 50,000 to 100,000......

The Reader, liberal rag that it is, is the only accurate reporter of the facts through Ben Javorski.

Too bad it is too little, tooo late for us-the blue shirts, Sgts and LTs. Officers will be needlessly injured because the Command Level has been dithering with their heads in the sand.

The reason why the facts are the way they are is THAT NOBODY FROM THE MAYOR ON DOWN HASN'T A CLUE ON WHAT TO DO.

Because of Rahm's ego, this entire city (including the law abiding, hard working citizens) is fucked. It will take months to fully assess the damages. Even Frank Main and Mike Sneed won't be able to spin it.

Attempting to alleviate any fears among his force and to explain City Hall’s continued secrecy, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said, “I'm personally going to be standing with those officers on those days. I am personally responsible to ensure that they have adequate equipment and adequate training. Right now, there is a lot of misinformation that is going on out there. I'm going to have to straighten that out internally. I'm not going to engage in a debate through the press."

SSC is the source for the truth about the G8. This fact cannot be spun or watered down or candy coated. Fran an Frank (rahms presscorps) can positively spin any of rahms disaterous decisions and obvious character flaws but the G8 will prove to the world once and for all. That SCC was right all along about daley,rahm,JFled and mcrehab.

Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. I actually feel sorry for you guys facing the mobs. Between the out-of-towner rioters and the locals you will be kept very busy. Hope that the hospitals will give police/firemen/emt types a move to the front of the line.

More important is how the people of this city are being robbed. We all pay taxes to the city of Chicago and are being robbed. This city need to have its police and fire department maned at full staff, anything less is robbery. Crime will continue to grow until we are fully staffed

Signed

The officers of the Chicago Police department also residents of this CITY (VOTERS)

Considering the length of notice for the G8/NATO and the demonstrated ability to draw and hold protestors especially with the apparent tacit encouragement/approval of top politicos and media writings of worldwide solidarity over a general economic downturn plus the known history of every one of these conferences,would one not expect and plan substantial security resources/tactics well in advance for it. Is it incompetence or ? especially considering the "national/international" experience on the 5th. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best used to be the motto as many past details demonstrated when guys complained of overkill as well as manpower availability(pre-community policing stuff). Moreover than just manpower is coordinated training and tactics (with practice)along with whatever other agencies, ie. fire and state, federal enforcement and even private security, if they are(hopefully) considered in backup plan. The cliche 'right hand needs to know what the left hand is doing' is necessary if the worst case scenario erupts. If the called for protest groups fail to coalesce or remain peaceful, nothing is lost and just a rewrite in disaster training and thinking. But,also consider many want to be part of history and to some the '68confrontations(King and convention) is a battle cry just as in '68 the haymarket statue and its history represented a battle cry and target for some resulting in present "protected" area. Consider time/place/people/causes and who is in the middle history- http://www.iww.org/en/history/library/misc/origins_of_mayday

I caught the cross reference for this on THEE RANT. What was Chicago thinking? This is a surefire recipe for disaster. Also read that Chicago now has the reputation for the most corrupt city in the nation. No shyt. On my visits, you guys are a great bunch and the NYPD will always roll out the red carpet for you here.

How does Chicago keep on electing these azzholes? We've got our politician morons here but we could never compete with Chicago. You would think the feds would clean things up unless they are in on it. We love you guys but Chicago politics are a laughing stock.

As far as I'm concerned, if you need us we've got your backs. A lot of you helped us out after 9/11. We don't forget.

Why hasn't the monthly list of retirees appeared in the FOP newsletter or online since last August??? It will be 6 months without any acknowledgemnt of their retirements if not in the next edition.Is the department holding(hiding) the numbers?? Is there another place to find the retirees listed for this time period??No reponse from FOP on this matter.

TWICE the size of chicago!!!!!!!! Check your facts you stupid fucking bitch. Try 3 or 4 times as many cops. Shitcago is way closer to 10000 cops and I'm pretty sure nyc is closer to 40000 but those are public numbers too, which are probably bulshit. Either way try 3 times more cops you lazy non fact checking bitch. Next time you write a column try putting accurate info in it and not just making up numbers you've HEARd used. I get more accurate info from the funny pages. Media = worthless garbage!

Sounds like you have got a trainwreck on your hands in Chi-Town. I am NYPD working a Brooklyn pct. I'd volunteer for the trip but I don't see it happening.

So how's McCarthy and CONstat working for you guys? Check out the whistle blower lawsuit filed by a Brooklyn MOS Adrian Schoolcraft. Also, there's a new book out that exposes CONstat. It's called THE CRIME NUMBERS GAME.

All that federal aid money that Rahm got for the summits -- that he thought would help boost the local economy I'll bet is going to be spent on outside -- on out of state private security.

Bye-bye! And....

What isn't sent out of state to buy security will go for the lawsuits due to civil rights violations caused by the outside security forces that are brought in and could care less what happens in our community because they do not have to live with the consequences... and the Illinois taxpayers will be held responsible.

Is it possible to pile on any more political bullshit and taxes, fines and fees on the citizens? Stay tuned!

Heh...NYC has double the police force as Chicago and we have double the aldermen as NYC right?

Tell me what's wrong with this picture!

We still paying for that Burke and Daley detail too?

Like the taxpayers are beholden to these millionaires that are either unwilling or unable to do a fund raiser to pay for their own security.

Where did it say until death do us part when they swore these people into office?

We are closing mental health facilities, cutting healthcare, closing prisons and laying off 19,000 state workers not mentioning the trickle down and we have a mayor that tell us we own Daley drivers and body guards as a departing gift. And we own Burke too. FOR WHAT!?

I'm NYPD. I saw the post on Thee Rant. There a buzz among young hippie troublemakers in Greenwich Village about traveling to Chicago for this thing come May. My cousin works in Harlem and there are even black revolutionary skells that want to be there to raise hell.

Who thought up this nightmare for Chicago? They are in way over their heads.

Hey France controlled the summit the last time they had it. Guess what? It took them 12,000 ADDITIONAL officers and they locked down their borders to do it.

The citizens of this town have no idea what a police state Chicago is going to turn into with the rolling roadblocks and green zone security check points, etc...

The G-8 is currently in Mexico this weekend and they are trying to hammer out bailouts and firewalls for the Euro zone. They have no money and we are doing these summits in the hope that we'll get more business? HA..From where?

Of the USA pours more bailout money into the IMF people are liable to go really nutz.

Look at the youtube feeds from the cell phone videos around the world, don't look at the main stream media that is filtering what's going on with their corporate/political bias agenda.

Protest in Greece, protest in Spain, protest in Portugal, protest in Italy, Syria has a civil war going on and Iran is cutting off the Euro's oil. If that's not a perfect storm against capitalism I don't know what is.

Oh and the bankers and some political leaders are mocking the protestors telling us they're dirty and they need to get a job.

Guess their meds will run out about the middle of April and it should be one hell of a party on the streets come May...

Oh well, we still have money for the ex-mayors and some aldermen's drivers though right?

We're still putting up that park on the north end too with the bird baths and jogging paths. Maybe the homeless and mentally ill can use that as a hangout eh? although the mayor will likely want them out by 11 pm because the law is the law and we have to respect that....unless you're a south-side reverend living in a tent on a roof. Then you can do anything you like.

Picking and choosing the winners and losers.

Don't waste money on an education and hard work. It's who you know not what you know.

CTA Special Employment will officially be over at the end of the 3rd Watch on Sunday 15APR12. Bid openings for PTS will be posted on Friday 30MAR12. Successful bidders will start in PTS on the 1st Watch on 16APR12.All openings for PTS will be by bid, no management spots will be available.

Here ya go.. More results from that Tower of Babbling Bullshit in Springfield on Saving Jobs.

How come this isn't in the local news rags and you have to get it from a Canadian newspaper?

-----

Struggling Sears to close 6 stores in Illinois

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (AP) — Sears Holdings Corp. has announced plans to close six stores in Illinois, two months after the company got a hefty tax credit for dropping a threat to move its headquarters out of state.

The plans follow news in December that the company would close at least 100 to 120 stores to raise cash after a disastrous holiday season. No Illinois stores were on that initial list, but the company held out the possibility that more outlets would be added.

The planned closures include a Sears in Alton, a Sears Grand/Essentials in McHenry, Kmarts in Oak Lawn, Zion and Peru, and a The Great Indoors store in Lombard. The company said a typical store employs between 40 and 80 people.

----

Sears laid off 100 workers at its headquarters outside of Chicago earlier this month, but a spokesman said at the time the layoffs didn't violate the terms for the tax credit

McCarthy, who has yet to comment on whether he requested help from New York, “has status with them and they have a force of 30,000, twice the size of Chicago’s police force,” said another security source.

In addition to addressing manpower and training needs there should be a plan implemented now as to the attention,screening, intelligence gathering with shared knowledge and no-nonsense approach to the people arriving in advance of the upcoming "festivities". Problems occur once they are allowed to set up and settle in. Just like a dope corner/house, same location just different faces and some with returning faces

I still don't understand why we are hosting this! It is like inviting a group of opposing gang bangers into your private party. You know there is going to be trouble. Serious trouble, yet you invite them in any way.

Thanks to Norridge PD for a little courtesy. Stopped last night on my way home sick as hell. He doesn't know how close I was to painting the inside of my car from both ends, and doesn"t know how much I appreciated that.

i hope this city burns to the ground--- phuck rahmbo and mcbottles, two sad sack bitches--- I will be welcoming all the protesters in may and directing them to the 4200 block of north hermitage to begin their month of destruction--- when little rahmbo calls for the police he will be directed to call 311 and tell his sob story right over the phone just like everyone else--- no police to send to the little shit because their are no police to send....

Back during Obamas election, the suburbs provided support to CPD in a manner that resembled the Mobile Field Force of today. The south burbs provided 80 officers led by HCPD Chief Folliard. At the last minute they grabbed helmets and masks and were staged throughout the Chicago area to provide back up to CPD only. There was no crowd control mission then. I dont believe 350 from ILEAS and 250 from ISP is enough. I really thimk they are under estimating the the size of the crowds and the length of time they will be needed. It will be before, during and after the summits. Your talking 2 weeks here, not 2-3 days.

"...the Obama crowds...the widespread, yet unreported, rioting on the West and South sides...

"Anyone who has studied crowd dynamics knows there is a distinct difference between a crowd out celebrating...and a mob out looking for trouble, destruction and targets to vent their anger upon." -- SCC

Hard to draw much distinction between people throwing chunks of concrete and people throwing chunks of concrete.

Obamariots/Occupyriots may not be the best comparison to draw, but in this case I'm not sure there is a good one. >grin<

Celebration and protest often seem to have become indistinguishable in their violence today, as an enforced-"multicultural" society continues to fragment and deteriorate, all behavior pegged to the lowest common denominator.

What matters most now is -- this time last year would have been an appropriate point at which to start ordering equipment, training officers, and arranging additional support.

Politics came first, though.

Not to worry -- the G8 Committee gets its paychecks no matter what happens.

I am a 26 year veteran Chicago Police Officer and I will tell you, Mr & Mrs Citizen that there is no way the CPD is prepared or has enough manpower for G8/NATO. I have NO training for riot duty and NO equipment. Nice, eh?

And on top of G8/NATO, Rahm and McCarthy are trying to conduct the most massive restructuring the Chicago Police Department has seen in 50 years including reassigning hundreds if not thousands of officers around to different units and districts across the City and closing districts and units and they intend to get all this completed BEFORE G8/NATO.

Recipe for disaster you might say? You would be correct. We have much less personnel than in the 1990's when the Bulls were winning championships.

Hold on to your hats because it will be getting a bit rocky in May of 2012.

And McCarthy knows little about Chicago, he is proving that daily, an outsider is running the circus and he is the new kid in town. Whoa Nelly!

The veteran cops all feel as I do, we've seen enough to smell a cluster-fuck coming.

Any Marines out there? You leathernecks know the value of training, the Chicago Police Department treats training as an evil that they can scrimp on. They show us a short video on the TV and declare us trained. Bullshit.

this is much ado about nothing. the only difference is when ny whines for more fed money they get it. also they understand the need for proper nos of pos. you cant have your pet projects, like flower pots etc and a properly manned police dept at the same time. all you business owners downtown, take a vacation or hire some security .

I heard the commanander of 025 has a CR# against him. I hope every effort is made by the investigator to convince the complaintant to sign the affadavid...After all his personal policy is that a visit should be made in person even thought that is not required by the dept......what goes around comes around muthafucka

as has been stated before during the may summits the sox play the cubs at wrigley which is always a drunken mess. to add fuel to the fire the saturday game this year is at 6:15pm. a saturday night game which means these people will start drinking at 9am and the bars stay open till 3am on saturday night and the late night joints till 5am. wrigleyville is gonna be chaos. where are we gonna get the police from to deal with this when downtown is burning?

When the city Hires less than 200 police in a 3 year span an over 3000 leave the job in the same timeframe, you don't volunteer your city to host an international summit that is known to cause trouble for it's residents.Nice job Rahm, by the next election everyone will know your game.

And, you better find about 2500 more Police from any city that will give them up.

From what I've heard chicago will not protect outside officers from civil liability. So why would anyon in their right mind want to help? Chicago is one of the few ass backwards cities left in this state. Furthermore now my tax is going to pay private businesses? Where does it end?

I recall some idiots firing weapons into the air and one female slapping a cop around 55th and Western.

I was working that night in a busy south side district and we had less activity than a typical NYE celebration. You want to have fun work the PR fest in Humboldt Park for a week. That's a mess.

Now I happen to think inviting a few hundred or thousand idiot anarchists into the city for two conferences is asinine with a capital "F", but let's not rewrite history.

I still recall the predictions of the city burning on election night and guys sending their families out of town for their safety. The city didn't burn and the hotel or travel bills were a waste.

My wife got so worked up over the potential violence that she went out to her sisters in the burbs. Unfortunately, she found her way back. I didn't miss her; although, in fairness I think I might miss one or possibly two of my kids.

While it's always best to be prepared in hindsight we could have done without the suburban cops downtown. Those folks in Grant Park were a peaceful crowd.

Now for the May activities we need to keep the peaceful but annoying OWS types away from the idiot wannabee Euro trash anarchists. Or to reference a discussion in "The Big Lebowski" perhaps they're actually nihilists.

This came when icons like Northwestern University and DePaul and others said "We're outta here!"

When probably happened is all the small business' realized that they were not going to be selling burgers and fries to those students and their stores and livelihoods were going to be trashed, looted and burned.

They started calling their insurance companies and asked, "Are we covered for this?"

Maybe some of the business insurance companies upped their premiums (News story here if true) and started canceling policies when they realized the CPD couldn't protect the Summit and the businesses at the same time.

Just wait 'til the first news stories hit the 4 o'clock news with burning police cars. By the time the 6 o'clock news is cued up and the savages see that there are few police on the streets the West and South Sides will burn. They adopted Rahm's policy of never let a crisis go to waist a loooog time ago.

Sneed's article says "It took 4,000 cops to handle the G-8 a few years back in Pittsburgh, which had a police force of less than 1,000 officers."

Pittsburgh didn't host G8, they hosted the G20 in Sept of 2009. They kept talking about how it was an opportunity to showcase Pittsburgh as a "world-class city." Sound familiar? I wonder how much travel and tourism have increased since then?

Pittsburgh spent $18M preparing, and they didn't have TOO much damage. But it was a completely different time and a completely different city.

Here's a novel idea lets deputize the already gun toting thugs in the hood to secure the perimeter of downtown during the G8 and NATO meetings. That way they can feel useful and productive to society for the first time and I'm quite sure they wouldn't ask for a dime from Rahmulous.

OTAccording to an email sent out by XO Patterson, he and the Chief were hauled into the Supts office early this afternoon and read the riot act regarding shootings this weekend that are already going off the charts. 009 3 shot, 1 dead (2 incidents)011 1 dead004 1 shot025 1 shot007. 1 shot004. 1 more shotAll between noon and 2030 hrs. Looks like another bloody weekend

Saw Jersey Gerry on the news in his public plea for more officers to come to Chicago and help.

Looks like a phony ploy.

Wouldn't that be done through official channels? Those departments have to authorize their officers to go. Some one has to pay them. What if they get injured, who is responsible for their medical costs? What if they are disabled?

Some might say that Eddie Burge ust fired one of his best shots at Rahm Emmanuel . This story will soon go national and then international making Ra hm look like an inept and thoroughly incompetent leader incapable of playing on an municipal stage, let alone an international stage.

STILL, no riot shields, no helmet upgrades, no flex cuff supplies, no first aid kits, no helmet face shields, no dripping piss/shit/acid/bleach run off helmet adapters, no riot batons, no gas mask upgrades, no expired gas mas filters, no manpower, no advance plans or answers to all the front line guys and gals questions. This city and department is a joke..

CPD has a drill about how to deliver bio-terror drugs to cpd jan 2012.

CPD wants front line officers unarmed, the boys and girls told the boss basically fuck you the weapon is part of the uniform.

Toronto spent 800 MILLION on the summits there, rahmbo wants to spend 55 million laughable! The taxpayers will be on the hook for billions,rahm and barry obama will both finish their political careers in shame!

Bklyn North said...I caught the cross reference for this on THEE RANT. What was Chicago thinking? This is a surefire recipe for disaster. Also read that Chicago now has the reputation for the most corrupt city in the nation. No shyt. On my visits, you guys are a great bunch and the NYPD will always roll out the red carpet for you here.

How does Chicago keep on electing these azzholes? We've got our politician morons here but we could never compete with Chicago. You would think the feds would clean things up unless they are in on it. We love you guys but Chicago politics are a laughing stock.

As far as I'm concerned, if you need us we've got your backs. A lot of you helped us out after 9/11. We don't forget.

Stay safe, guys.

2/26/2012 11:30:00 AM-----------------------------------------------We are not alone, gentle people. Thanks to fine officers like this, we are not alone.

We live on the NW side--should we leave town for this disaster? I would but am also nervous about leaving my property unattended, considering the inevitable law enforcement shortage in the neighborhoods.

"...I still recall the predictions of the city burning on election night and guys sending their families out of town for their safety. The city didn't burn and the hotel or travel bills were a waste. <<<

It didn't happen because the Messiah had won and we were on every corner of the ghetto.

If McCain had squeaked by or this was a case of hanging chads in Florida we would have had the fight of our lives.

Not long after that I had a conversation with the head of the Chicago Office of the U.S. Secret Service. He was an old school Chicago boy and his father was a Chicago Fire Department Captain. We talked about being second generation public servents as my dad was a Police Lieutenant.

His dad fought the fires spawned by the assassination of Martin Luther King. My God we were thinking, what would happen to this town, to cities everywhere in this country, IF...

as has been stated before during the may summits the sox play the cubs at wrigley which is always a drunken mess. to add fuel to the fire the saturday game this year is at 6:15pm. a saturday night game which means these people will start drinking at 9am and the bars stay open till 3am on saturday night and the late night joints till 5am. wrigleyville is gonna be chaos. where are we gonna get the police from to deal with this when downtown is burning?

2/26/2012 05:09:00 PM

Not the biggest problem we will have. The game will be canceled and rescheduled. Google 18 May Denmark and you will see that we are going to get hammered Friday. The call has gone out, the shirts are for sale on Craigslist, and IT will go up. Couple that with 19 May being Armed Forces Day and you have a city ablaze.

This is so fucking embarrassing, I could shit my pants........But hey, what else do you expect from a major, major, metropolitan city that hires only a handful of cops in five year spans because it would rather spend its money on bullshit. Rahm's gotta quit this CPD restructuring crap and make getting more cops priority number one.

Nobody at County has said anything about this event. Wonder if there's gonna be a huge overflow? BTW, if it's any consolation, some of us DOC officers would probably love to get out of the jail for a day and work in the fresh air. LOL.

I hear the Department is going to erect a wall of mirrors, like that in Enter the Dragon, to create the illusion that a hundred police officers will look like thousands. We're even going to throw in a few Bruce Lee lookalikes to scare the crap out of any troublemakers. Whaaaaaa-haaa!! Oooooooo...

We live on the NW side--should we leave town for this disaster? I would but am also nervous about leaving my property unattended, considering the inevitable law enforcement shortage in the neighborhoods.

2/27/2012 12:27:00 AM<<<

Your home is your castle.Defend it sensibly.Know your neighbors.

Buy a no-nonsense plain and simple home defense firearm. Learn to use and store it safely. Have a plan to stay in touch with your family. Be able to stay in your home for few days if need be with out going out.

Sneed never fails to find ...how about sneed never fails to publish whatever she is fed...positive or negative its always just (A) a test to gauge public sentiment or (B) a phony "news flash" planted to justify the department/city's preplanned response...or (c) a blatant plug for wellconnected publicity needing exempts needing a stroke

By the time the 6 o'clock news is cued up and the savages see that there are few police on the streets the West and South Sides will burn.------------------------or not. most of those buildings are not especially flammable.

First of all, NYPD is almost 4 times larger than us, at about 36,000 officers. They just hired hundreds more. We are or will be at or around 8000 when the G8 hits.As of last month, NYPD was thinking of sending 250-400 men here, but no one here can coordinate anything, since they will not listen to anyone with experiance in these matters. Some of the burbs are thinking of sending a crowd control task force, but agin, the city is not very clear in what they want.If this becomes a mess, everyone involved should sue the exempt who is in charge and screwing this thing up.

We live on the NW side--should we leave town for this disaster? I would but am also nervous about leaving my property unattended, considering the inevitable law enforcement shortage in the neighborhoods.

2/27/2012 12:27:00 AM

It's doubtful the issues will be brought to Edison Park. It's doubtful Arlington Heights will be affected either. But, if you have business downtown, like city stickers, permits, traffic court, divorce court, etc., you should schedule accordingly. I have friends who live in the west loop who think they're going to be immune and life will be 'normal'. For them, it won't. Streets will be blocked for motorcade after motorcade, access to public venues will be limited whenever an event is held there, or nearby... Lakefront proms? Severely curtailed. Weddings? oops. Other conventions have already canceled or rescheduled.

Sneed's article says "It took 4,000 cops to handle the G-8 a few years back in Pittsburgh, which had a police force of less than 1,000 officers."

Pittsburgh didn't host G8, they hosted the G20 in Sept of 2009. They kept talking about how it was an opportunity to showcase Pittsburgh as a "world-class city." Sound familiar? I wonder how much travel and tourism have increased since then?

Pittsburgh spent $18M preparing, and they didn't have TOO much damage. But it was a completely different time and a completely different city.

2/26/2012 09:22:00 PM-AND they didn't host NATO at the same time. AND Occupy didn't exist.

"We live on the NW side--should we leave town for this disaster? I would but am also nervous about leaving my property unattended, considering the inevitable law enforcement shortage in the neighborhoods."

--2/27/2012 12:27:00 AM

Big draw is going to be towards the Loop. I can't see anyone getting NEAR the summits; anyone actually endangering heads of state will rather obviously be killed on the spot by coordinated teams of some of the world's best professional marksmen.

The battleground will be Grant Park and downtown. Lots of things to break, turn over, throw, set on fire.

It'll be something to see the flash mobs pouring up out of the Red Line, thousands strong, "shirtless, with hats on sideways, looking for trouble" and beating the s__t out of Occupy, stealing their Iphones and laptops and backpacks, and doing other standard unmentionable things.

They will not be going down there to exchange "power handshakes" with the kiddies and "unite against the oppressor." You are talking preliterate and nearly preverbal people here, who just want someone's wallet -- and one kind of won't-be-able-to-press-charges out-of-towner is as good as the next.

The college-boy demonstrators have a big surprise coming. They had better not worry so much about "police brutality." It's gonna be these people who'll really do them. By the time this breaks loose, there won't be anyone decent downtown for the mobs to get their hands on.

I'd say to stay home, make a bowl of popcorn, and watch the fun on TV -- except that the local media have a way of pointing their cameras in the opposite direction from non-politically-correct trouble.

Enjoy the popcorn, anyway.

It would probably not be a bad idea to have a double-barrel and a box a shells in the broom closet, but that goes without saying, anywhere you live.

Brings to mind -- has anyone "visualized" any sort of plans for what I understand are the 55,000 college students who live in the Loop and environs?

Certainly there are a lot of good kids here -- has anyone made the point to them that the confluence of massive law enforcement/imported professional rioters/mindless local "flash mob" looters and robbers is not going to be a safe place for them?

WHAT ARE THE PLANS? Do they "shelter in place" until the vending machines run out of crackers, do they leave town -- what?

Is there any senior housing in the area that will be affected? An even more vulnerable population.

What about operation and protection of hospitals? What mass casualty plans will be brought into play? By who, and where? What equipment and supplies have been prepositioned - or are there any at all?

HEY. MAYOR. HEY, "HOST COMMITTEE."

HEY, ANYONE!

?

Where the hell were you LAST YEAR when these questions and a thousand others should have been worked out -- AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?

the most likely reality....G8/NATO will go to hell, with protestors everywhere, property damage, people getting hurt, etc.....if, by some stretch, it goes well, Rahm will claim the ultimate credit, boost his chances for a run for the Presidency (ego check?); if it goes badly, GMac gets chopped, and others take the blame; truth is, training and preparation for this event is either inadequate or nonexistent, and it's NOT because the CPD is unwilling (although morale and spirit is suffering), but those CPD on the front lines will perform, in spite of lack of leadership and equipment deficiencies.....watch and see

Anonymous said...I hear the Department is going to erect a wall of mirrors, like that in Enter the Dragon, to create the illusion that a hundred police officers will look like thousands. We're even going to throw in a few Bruce Lee lookalikes to scare the crap out of any troublemakers. Whaaaaaa-haaa!! Oooooooo...

Anonymous said... "The citizens of this town have no idea what a police state Chicago is going to turn into with the rolling roadblocks and green zone security check points, etc..."

--2/26/2012 12:48:00 PM

Oh yeah, rolling roadblocks for all these dignitaries and their families all over town!What a cluster F this is going to be.It's bad enough that this happens every time NObama comes in town but shit this will be 10 times worse!

Rahm does not care. Maybe if there is carnage, maybe. BIG maybe. But he isn't out there like so many of you. He does not get it on your level. He lives in a different world, figuratively. I do not think he is capable of even bringing himself "to the table" as far as this conversation is concerned. Alot of wasted breath. The only thing that matters is the guys and girls next to you and going home when it's all said and done. Take care of business and leave the doomsday comments at home.